Hammer cocking lever for firearms



y 1966 D. E. ALLEN 3,248,817

HAMMER COCKING LEVER FOR FIREARMS Filed April 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOFPNE'VS May 3, 1966 D. E. ALLEN HAMMER'COCKING LEVER FOR FIREARMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1965 T NW t W0 & 5 W 0A 2 .QL 1 M m m 0 A m u n f 3. 8 W SW 1M ATTOFPNEYJ' y 3, 1966 D. E. ALLEN 3,248,817

HAMMER COCKING LEVER FOR FIREARMS Filed April 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENTQR g i (kale/ BY A TOFPNE United States Patent G T 3,248,817 HAMME t CGCKENG LEVER FUR FIREARIVIS Dwight E. Alien, 7502 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia, Pa. Fiied Apr. 12, W65, Ser. No. 447,349 7 Claims. (Cl. 42-69) This invention relates to improved firearms. It is particularly concerned with improvements in hand-held firearms of the pistol type although certain of the features of the invention are applicable to other kinds of firearms.

The invention is especially useful in pistols of the automatic type, particularly the Colt 45 Automatic, which has been a standard firearm for many years. Such automatic pistols are disclosed, inter alia, in Browning Patents 984,519 and 1,070,582. The invention will be described with particular reference to such pistols and it will become clear thatin order to obtain the "advantages of the invention therein the modification of only a few parts is required.

One problem of long standing in the design and operation of automatic pistols is that of placing the weapon in condition for firing the first round of a series while at the same time keeping the weapon in safe condition for carrying in a holster or otherwise. The design features which make the pistol an effective automatic weapon are of little help in this regard, since they are of necessity premised on the firing of the pistol to exploit their advantages.

Several practices have been developed for carrying an automatic pistol in safe condition and readying it for a first shot. According to one of these, the weapon is carried without a round in the firing chamber and with the hammer forward or uncocked. Prior to firing, the user manually simulates the automatic operation of the weapon by pushing the slide back to cock the hammer and letting it slide forward to strip a round from the magazine. This operation requires two hands and may consume invaluable time.

Another practice is to carry the weapon with a round in the chamber but with the hammer forward. When he is ready to fire, the user then cocks the weapon by drawing back on the hammer with his thumb. Such a movement of the thumb is quite awkward because the drawing action requires the thumb to move through a path in which it is weak. The considerable strength of the muscles controlling the thumb cannot be fully exploited in this motion. Some persons, even after practice, are unable to develop the dexterity required to cock the hammer in this way and find that they must use two hands for the operation. Persons with small hands have particular difficulty.

Those concerned with the design of automatic pistols have been cognizant of the problem of readying the weapon for its first shot and have devised safety devices making it feasible to carry the weapon with the hammer cocked and with a round in the chamber. In order to fire the first shot the user unlocks the safety device, usually with the thumb of his firing hand. The most widely used device of this kind is that disclosed by Browning Patent 1,070,582. However, this device, and others which have been proposed, are awkward to operate and are less than completely satisfactory.

The improvements provided by the present invention eliminate the disadvantages heretofore inherent in automatic weapons in readying them for the first shot. By the use of this invention it is possible to carry the weapon with the round in the chamber and the hammer forward and still place the weapon in condition for firing almost instantly. The invention exploits a natural strong movement of the thumb of the firer to cock the hammer. The firing characteristics of the pistol are unmodified and the characteristics for the first shot are the same as those for subsequent shots in which the pistol is cocked automatically. Stating it differently, by use of the present invention, one retains the well-known advantages of an automatic 3,248,817 Patented May 3, 1966 weapon and side-steps the disadvantages inherent in revolvers and other weapons which rely on trigger-actuated cocking or safety devices.

The invention may be readily applied to existing automatic pistols and requires only simple modifications of the weapon. When it is applied to the Colt 45, the existing cuts in the frame are employed for the mounting of the modified parts.

In accordance with the invention, a cocking lever is provided on the left side of the firearm in position to be actuated by the thumb of the firer. By swinging the thumb of his hand through its natural folding motion while holding the gun, the firer pushes the cocking lever downwardly. While the cocking lever is rotating counter clockwise (as the weapon is viewed from the left), the hammer spring is compressed, and the hammer is rotated clockwise, to its cocked position. then released by the thumb and the weapon is ready to fire.

t is an object of the present invention to provide improved automatic firearms which may be easily and quickly cocked prior to firing and without requiring the use of two hands.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved firearm which may be carried in safe condition with the hammer forward and which may be readily placed in condition for firing.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved cocking mechanism for firearms which may be readily adapted to weapons now in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a firearm with a thumb actuated cocking mechanism exploiting a natural strong movement of the thumb of the firer.

The above objects and purposes, together with others, may more readily be understood by considering the detailed description which follows together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic pistol embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the pistol of FIGURE 1 on a somewhat enlarged scale, with some parts omitted, with certain parts shown in section, and with the over all shape of those parts which are sectioned shown in phantom outline;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of a hammer strut for use in the pistol of FIGURES 1 and 2, modified in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a cocking lever constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the cocking lever of FIGURE 4, showing the structure of the inner side of the lever;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a retainer used with the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the retainer plate of FIGURE 6, showing the construction of the inner side of the plate;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary elevational views of a portion of the pistol of FIGURES l and 2, with many parts omitted and with some parts shown in phantom outline, the views showing sequential steps in the cocking of the weapon in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevational View similar to FIGURE 2, but on a further enlarged scale, showing an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the cocking lever utilized in the embodiment of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 1 shows a pistol designated generally as 20, of the 45 Automatic type. The pistol includes frame 21, which has a handle portion. The barrel 22 is mounted on the frame and is covered by the slide 23. When the weapon is fired, both the barrel and the slide move to the rear on the frame. A spring is enclosed in tube 24 plate The cocking lever is' which spring is compressed during such rearward movement by the force of the recoil. The slide 26 moves to the rear during firing farther than does the barrel. As the slide completes its rearward motion it withdraws the spent cartridge from the firing chamber and ejects it. The energy stored in the spring within tube 24 is then utilized to move the slide and the barrel forward. As the slide moves forward it strips a fresh cartridge from the magazine which is mounted in the handle and seats it in the firing chamber. The slide and barrel then move forward together to the firing position and the weapon is ready to fire once again.

A hammer 25 is pivotally mounted on the frame 21 near the top rear portion thereof. It is provided with a customary tab 26 by which the hammer can be moved to the cocked position. When the weapon is fired the hammer swings forward on the frame to strike the firing pin and when the slide 23 moves to the rear during recoil, it swings the hammer to the rear to the cocked position.

A key element in the scheme of assembly of an automatic of this type is the pivot pin 27. This pin is provided with an exterior lever 28 which is desirably spring biased.

The cocking lever which forms an important element of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 1 at 39. It is provided with a contoured extension 31 which is shaped to provide a bearing surface for the thumb of the firers hand. As can be seen from FIGURE 1, the cocking lever occupies the position which, in conventionally arranged automatics, is occupied by a combined slide lock and hammer lock. Also appearing on FIGURE 1 is a retainer plate 32, the construction and operation of which will be explained later.

The mounting of the cocking lever 30 with relation to the hammer and the other parts of the firing mechanism can be seen by considering FIGURE 2 together with FIG- URES 3-7. The hammer 25 is pivotally mounted on the frame at pivot point 33. The hammer has a generally cylindrical body portion surrounding the pivot point, and an upstanding anvil portion. The cylindrical portion of the hammer has detents on the periphery thereof for engagement with the sear 2? which holds the hammer in cocked position. Toward the rear of the cylindrical portion of the hammer a hammer strut 34 is pivotally connected to it. The hammer strut extends downwardly along the back of the handle portion of the frame to press against the hammer spring 3'5. In a Colt type automatic pistol the hammer spring is an axially compressible coil spring positioned at the base portion of the handle of the frame where it is generally uprig-htly oriented; thus only the upper portion of the hammer spring appears in FIG- URE 2. The hammer strut 34 seats in a cap 36 on top of the hammer spring. From the foregoing it can be seen that when the hammer strut 3dmoves downwardly on the frame, the hammer spring 35 is compressed and, because of the pivotal connection between the strut and the hammer, the hammer is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 2, until the sear 29 catches in a detent on the hammer to hold it in cocked position. When the sear is rotated away from the hammer upon actuation of the trigger, the hammer spring extends and pushes the hammer strut 34 upwardly on the frame. As the hammer strut moves upwardly it swings the hammer in a counterclockwise direction so that the anvil portion of the harnmer hits the firing pin 37.

The firing mechanism of the weapon as just described is conventional. The arrangement of the equivalent parts in other types of automatics varies somewhat, but most of them include a rotatable hammer which is held in cocked position by a sear, a compressible hammer spring, and a hammer strut or other link interposed between the hammer and the hammer spring for the purpose of transmitting the spring force to the hammer to drive it against the firing pin.

,sa-asrv In accordance with this invention the hammer strut 34 is provided with an auxiliary leg 38 which terminates in a bearing surface 39. The bearing surface 39 faces generally upwardly or away from the hammer spring 35. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the bearing surface is positioned adjacent arcuate slot 40.

Cooking lever 3% is pivotally mounted on the frame 21 at pivot point 41. As can best be seen in FIGURE 5, this may be accomplished conveniently by means of a stud d2 fixed to the lever fit). It should be noted that the pivot point 4-1 of the cocking lever is to the rear of pivot point 33 of the hammer. The cooking lever has mounted on it a pusher stud 43 which is so positioned that it extends into the interior of the frame through slot 4%. As the cocking lever is pivoted about point 41, the pusher stud 43 moves through an are within arcuate slot 41].

Pusher stud 43 is positioned on the cocking lever so that, as the lever pivots, stud 43 bears against bearing surface 39 on leg 38 of the hammer stud 34. Thus the force of a thumb pivoting the cocking lever is transmitted as a pushing force to the hammer stud and ultimately as a compressing force to the hammer spring 35.

When the weapon is cocked, it is desirable to have the pusher stud 43 of the cocking lever held away from the bearing surface 39 of the hammer strut and further, out of the path of travel of the bearing surface during upward movement of the hammer strut as the weapon is fired. This object is accomplished by the provision of bias means which may take the form of spring 44. One end of spring 44 is hooked into a cutout normally provided on the side of frame 21. The spring is looped around a stud 45 on the frame, which stud is normally provided to receive a screw for securing the grip to the handle. The other end of spring 44 seats in a notch 46 on the forward portion of the cocking lever. With the parts so arranged bias spring 44 normally urges the cocking lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2. Clockwise movement of the lever under the urging of the bias spring 44 is stopped when pusher stud 43 bears against the upper end of arcuate slot 40. The force exerted by bias spring 44 can be readily adjusted to provide adequate bias without inordinately inceasing the amount of force required to cock the weapon.

The cocking lever and its bias means are mounted on the frame so that they are securely held but, upon disassembly of the weapon, may be easily removed. This is accomplished by the use of retainer plate 32. It should first be noted that in the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 the cocking lever is provided with a forwardly projecting tongue As can be seen in FIGURES 2, 6 and 7, retainer plate 32 is generally L-shaped and has a cutout portion 43 on the inner side thereof which overlies part of spring 3 and the forwardly projecting tongue 47 of the cocking lever. While the retainer plate overlies those parts, it does not interfere with their movement during pivoting of the cocking lever. Retainer plate 32 is positioned on the frame by means of studs 49 which fit into holes normally provided in the frame 2 1. The retainer plate is itself held on the frame of the weapon by the grip portion of the handle which partially overlies it as shown in FIGURE 1. As was mentioned earlier, a 45 caliber automatic is usually provided with a lever 28 which is spring biased. Retainer plate 32 occupies the position conventionally occupied by the biasing means for lever 28. For this reason a leaf spring 50 is formed at the forward end of the retainer plate 32 to provide the biasing function of the part which has been removed.

The operation of the improved firearm of this invention can now be described with especial reference to FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. In FIGURE 8, the hammer 25 is shown in its forward position. When it is in this position the weapon is essentially safe because no striking force can be applied to the firing pin. The cooking lever St is in its up position and the hammer strut 34 is similarly in the up position. The hammer spring 35, which is not shown in these views, is uncompressed. With the parts so arranged the pusher stud 46 of the cocking lever 30 is seated on bearing surface 39 of the hammer strut. To cock the firearm the user presses with his thumb against the contoured extension 31 of the cocking lever. He does so by folding his thumb forwardly as he grips the pistol. This is a natural strong motion of the thumb, and the user is easily able to develop ample force for compressing the hammer spring. The cocking lever pivots forwardly in the same direction as the firers thumb. This is an important advantage of the invention, since it maintains approximately the same mechanical advantage throughout the motion of the cocking lever.

As the cocking lever swings forwardly and downwardly under the urging of the thumb, the pusher stud 43 exerts a downward force on the hammer strut through bearing surface 39. The stud moves backwardly across the bearing surface 39 somewhat because of its arcuate path of travel. The pivoting motion of the cocking lever is thus transmitted into a translational motion of the hammer strut 34. As the hammer strut 34 moves downwardly it pulls the hammer in a clockwise movement about the hammer pivot point and rotates it until the sear 29 catches the hammer in the cocked position. By comparing FIG- URES 8 and 9, one can see that in the latter figure, the hammer strut is moved downwardly and the hammer is cocked. FIGURE 9 also shows that bias-ing spring 44 has been deflected by the downward movement of the cocking lever.

In order to complete the operation of' placing the weapon in condition to fire, the user releases the thumb pressure on the cocking lever. Bias spring 44 then moves the cocking lever in a clockwise pivoting action to the limit of its travel. In this way pusher stud 43 is lifted away from bearing surface 39 and will not obstruct upward motion of the hammer strut when the sear releases the hammer. (See FIGUR E 10.)

The cocking action just described can be accomplished quite quickly. One familiar with the weapon can get off his first shot as rapidly as a person firing a revolver from the hammer down position or one firing an automatic having its hammer cocked and locked by the conventional hammer lock.

The alternate embodiment shown in FIGURES 11 and 12 provides a cooking action substantially the same as the embodiment in FIGURES 1 and 2, but does not utilize separate retainer plate 32. In some instances this may be preferred since it will reduce the modifications of the standard firearm which are necessary. rIn the modified cocking lever of this embodiment, the forwardly projecting tongue 47 is omitted, as is the bias spring notch. (Compare FIGURES 5 and 12.) The retaining means for the cocking lever 30 comprise a forwardly projecting element 51 on the pusher stud 43. The arcuate slot in the frame 21 is normally provided with an enlarged portion which allows for easy mounting of the cocking lever on the frame despite the presence of the retaining element 51 on stud 43'.

A well 52 is cut into the inner face of the cocking lever to accommodate bias spring 44'. The bias spring is seated in this well with one leg bearing against the upper edge of the well. Spring 44' is looped around strut 42' and the other leg of the spring terminates in an inwardly bent projection 53. This projection is hooked onto the lower edge of arcuate slot 40. Inasmuch as no retainer plate is used in this embodiment, the conventional bias means for lever 28 of the weapon can be retained.

From the foregoing can be seen that this invention provides a simple and effective means for cocking an automatic firearm. The parts required by the invention are relatively simple and make use of existing cutouts and pivot points in the frame of an automatic pistol. While the foregoing description has emphasized the applicability of the invention to an automatic of the Colt 45 type, the

principles involved can be readily adapted to other types of automatics and to other types of firearms.

I claim:

1. In a firearm having a frame, a spring driven hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a scar engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position; the improvement which comprises a cocking lever mounted on said frame upon a pivot located to the rear of the pivot point of said hammer, said cocking lever being positioned on the frame to pivot in the same direction as, and under the urging of, the thumb of a hand holding the firearm, and said cocking lever further having a part in position to exert a compressin-g force on the hammer spring upon pivoting motion of the cocking lever to move the hammerto its cocked position, and bias means connected to said cocking lever normally urging it away from its hammer spring compressing position.

2. In a firearm having a frame and a spring driven hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position; the improvement which comprises a cocking lever pivotally mounted on said frame exteriorly thereof, said cocking lever having a part extending into the interior of said framein position to exert a com-pressing force on the hammer spring upon pivoting motion of the'cocking lever to move the hammer to its cocked position, the interiorly extending part of said cocking lever being positioned thereon forwardly of the pivot point of the cocking lever, and bias means connected to said cocking lever for nor-mally urging it away from its hammer spring compressing position.

3. In a firearm having a frame and a spring driven hammer pivotallymounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position; the improvement which comprises a cocking lever pivotally mounted on said frame exteriorly thereof to pivot forwardly thereon, said cocking lever having a part extending into the interior of said frame in position to exert a compressing force on the hammer spring upon pivoting motion of the cocking lever to move the hammer to its cocked position, and bias means connected to said cocking lever for normally urging it away from its hammer spring compressing position.

4. In a firearm having a frame and a spring driven hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in a cocked position; the improvement comprising a hammer strut positioned between said hammer and its spring for delivering a driving force from said spring to the hammer, said hammer strut being provided with a bearing surface facing away from said hammer spring, a cocking lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said cocking lever having a part extending into position to push against the bearing surface of said hammer strut during pivoting motion of the cocking lever to thereby compress said hammer spring and move the ham mer to its cocked position, bias means connected to said cocking lever for normally urging the interiorly extending part thereof away from the bearing surface of said hammer strut, and retaining means for holding said cocking lever on the frame.

5. In a hand held firearm having a frame including a handle portion, a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to'discharge the firearm and rearwardly to cocked position, a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position, and a hammer spring mounted in the handle portion of said frame generally below said hammer; the improvement comprising a hammer strut positioned between said hammer and said hammer spring and connected thereto for delivering a driving force from the spring to the hammer, said hammer strut being provided with an upwardly facing bearing surface, a cocking lever pivotally mounted on the side of said frame exteriorly thereof, said cocking lever having a pivot point on the frame to the rear of the pivot point of said hammer, said cocking lever being positioned on the frame to pivot in the same direction as, and under the urging of, the thumb of a hand holding the firearm, said cocking lever having stud extending into the interior of said frame above the bearing surface of said hammer strut in position to push downwardly against said bearing surface during pivoting motion of the cocking lever to thereby compress said hammer spring and move the hammer to its cocked position, bias means connected to said cocking lever for normally urging said stud away from said bearing surface, and retaining means for holding said cocking lever on the frame.

6. In a firearm having a frame and a spring driven hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position; the improvement which comprises a cocking lever pivotally mounted on said frame exteriorly thereof, said cocking lever having a part extending into the interior of said frame in position to exert a compressing force on the hammer spring upon pivoting motion of the cocking lever to move the hammer to its cocked position, the interiorly extending part of said cocking lever being positioned thereon forwardly of the pivot point of the cocking lever, said cocking lever further having a forwardly projecting tongue thereon, a bias spring for said cocking lever connected to said frame forwardly of said cocking lever, and connected to said cocking lever, and a retainer plate fixed to said frame forwardly of said cocking lever and overlying the tongue of said cocking lever and said bias spring. 7. In a firearm having a frame and a spring driven hammer pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forwardly thereon to discharge the firearm and rearwardly to a cocked position, and a sear engageable with said hammer to hold it in cocked position, said frame having a slot on the side thereof giving access to the interior of said frame adjacent the hammer; the improvement which comprises a cocking lever pivotally mounted on said frame exteriorly thereof, said cocking lever having a stud extending through said slot into the interior of said frame in position to exert a compressing force on the hammer spring upon pivoting motion of the cocking lever to move the hammer to its cocked position, said stud being positioned on the cocking lever forwardly of the cocking lever pivot point and further being provided with a projection engaging an edge of said slot, to thereby retain said cocking lever on said frame, and a bias spring mounted on said cocking lever and engaging an edge of said slot.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN FIREARM HAVING A FRAME, A SPRING DRIVEN HAMMER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME TO SWING FORWARDLY THEREON TO DISCHARGE THE FIREARM AND REARWARDLY TO A COCKED POSITION, AND A SEAR ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HAMMER TO HOLD IT IN COCKED POSITION; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A COCKING LEVER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME UPON A PIVOT LOCATED TO THE REAR OF THE PIVOT POINT OF SAID HAMMER, SAID COCKING LEVER BEING POSITIONED ON THE FRAME TO PIVOT IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS, AND UNDER THE URGING OF, THE THUMB OF A HAND HOLDING THE FIREARM, AND SAID COCKING LEVER FURTHER HAVING A PART IN POSITION TO EXERT A COMPRESSING FORCE ON THE HAMMER SPRING UPON PIVOTING MOTION OF THE COCKING LEVER TO MOVE THE HAMMER TO ITS COCKED POSITION, AND BIAS MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID COCKING LEVER NORMALLY URGING IT AWAY FROM ITS HAMMER SPRING COMPRESSING POSITION. 